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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Eight New Defendants Charged in Racketeering Conspiracy Related to Gang Activity in the Cherry Hill Area of Baltimore Indictment Details Alleged Gang Violence Including Six Murders, Shootings, Stabbings, Carjackings and Robberies Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging eight new defendants with racketeering conspiracy, drug and gun charges related to their gang activities as members and associates of the UDH or “Up Da Hill” organization, which operates in the Cherry Hill section of Baltimore. The superseding indictment, which was returned on March 18, 2015, and unsealed on March 20, 2015, also adds new charges against four defendants charged in the original indictment. The superseding indictment charges the following defendants: Steven Jackson, a/k/a Cutty, age 24, of Baltimore; Asim Benns, a/k/a Seem, age 31, of Baltimore; Clarence Shipley, a/k/a Mook, age 27, of Baltimore; Gregory Sykes-Bey, age 21, of Baltimore; *Elijah Sykes-Bey, a/k/a LaLa, age 20, of Baltimore; *Cornell Harvey, a/k/a Little Head, age 27, of Baltimore; *James Scott, a/k/a Mook Day, age 23, of Essex, Maryland; *Lamont Jones, a/k/a Butt Juice, age 22, of Baltimore; *Dominic Evans, a/k/a Flatline, age 25, of Baltimore; *Michael Smith, a/k/a Lil Mikey, age 22, of Baltimore; *Donte Thornton, a/k/a Tay, age 30, of Baltimore; and *Alonzo Clea, a/k/a Zo, age 25, of Baltimore. * - indicates new defendant charged in this indictment. The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby. All 12 defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy as well as in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and marijuana as members of the “UDH” organization, which operates in the area of Cherry Hill known as “Up the Hill” or “Up da Hill.” According to the superseding indictment, the members of UDH were part of a racketeering enterprise and protected their power, territory and profits through the use of violence, threats of violence, intimidation, robbery, narcotics trafficking and obstruction of justice. The superseding indictment alleges that UDH members have also committed murders, attempted murders, assaults, carjackings, obstruction of justice and robberies. Specifically, the superseding indictment alleges that, beginning in 2004, UDH members committed six murders of rival gang members and/or drug dealers, and shot nine other individuals. In addition, the superseding indictment alleges that members of UDH committed home invasion, street and bank robberies in order to fund their narcotics activities. All 12 defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. All are detained pending trial. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF, Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and thanked the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Andrea L. Smith, Seema Mittal, and Patricia C. McLane, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has returned a
superseding indictment charging eight new defendants with racketeering
conspiracy, drug and gun charges related to their gang activities as members
and associates of the UDH or “Up Da Hill” organization, which operates in the
Cherry Hill section of Baltimore. The superseding indictment, which was
returned on March 18, 2015, and unsealed on March 20, 2015, also adds new
charges against four defendants charged in the original indictment.

The superseding indictment charges the following defendants:

Steven Jackson,
a/k/a Cutty, age 24, of Baltimore;

Asim Benns, a/k/a
Seem, age 31, of Baltimore;

Clarence Shipley,
a/k/a Mook, age 27, of Baltimore;

Gregory Sykes-Bey,
age 21, of Baltimore;

*Elijah Sykes-Bey,
a/k/a LaLa, age 20, of Baltimore;

*Cornell Harvey,
a/k/a Little Head, age 27, of Baltimore;

*James Scott,
a/k/a Mook Day, age 23, of Essex, Maryland;

*Lamont Jones,
a/k/a Butt Juice, age 22, of Baltimore;

*Dominic Evans,
a/k/a Flatline, age 25, of Baltimore;

*Michael Smith,
a/k/a Lil Mikey, age 22, of Baltimore;

*Donte Thornton,
a/k/a Tay, age 30, of Baltimore; and

*Alonzo Clea,
a/k/a Zo, age 25, of Baltimore.

* - indicates
new defendant charged in this indictment.

The superseding indictment was announced by United States
Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in
Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the
Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J.
Mosby.

All 12 defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy
as well as in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and
marijuana as members of the “UDH” organization, which operates in the area of
Cherry Hill known as “Up the Hill” or “Up da Hill.”

According to the superseding indictment, the members of UDH
were part of a racketeering enterprise and protected their power, territory and
profits through the use of violence, threats of violence, intimidation,
robbery, narcotics trafficking and obstruction of justice. The superseding
indictment alleges that UDH members have also committed murders, attempted
murders, assaults, carjackings, obstruction of justice and robberies.
Specifically, the superseding indictment alleges that, beginning in 2004, UDH
members committed six murders of rival gang members and/or drug dealers, and
shot nine other individuals. In addition, the superseding indictment alleges
that members of UDH committed home invasion, street and bank robberies in order
to fund their narcotics activities.

All 12 defendants face a maximum sentence of life in
prison.All are detained pending trial.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.An individual charged by indictment is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal
proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the ATF,
Baltimore Police Department, and Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for
their work in the investigation and thanked the FBI, Baltimore County Police
Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore City Sheriff’s
Office for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys
Andrea L. Smith, Seema Mittal, and Patricia C. McLane, who are prosecuting this
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.